Harmful or Helpful?

I stopped smoking 23 years ago. I decided that I wanted to scuba dive
and if I didn't stop I would not be able to. It wasn't easy, and for
about two years I had memory recall and did crave cigarettes.

What I didn't do was, "call myself a smokeaholic". It never occurred
to me to attach a, "negative label to myself due to a behavior I needed
to correct."

I began to question the use of the word alcoholic post reading Anne
Fletcher's book.

The word, "alcoholic," is no longer a word I will use to self-
identify. I had a problem with alcohol, knew I had a problem, and
stopped. I am aware today that the greater benefit for me would have
been therapy to deal with major life loss it truly was what I needed.

As a woman ...me, I enjoy indentifying myself as a businesswoman, mom,
good friend, mentor.

Why would I want a negative label attached to me for a lifetime?

Beth